title: Listeria monocytogenes meningitis and decreased phagocytosis associated with iron overload.
abstract: A patient with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis was found to have idiopathic haemochromatosis and monocytes with reduced phagocytic capacity. The phagocytic function recovered completely after a series of therapeutic phlebotomies. In-vitro iron had a deleterious effect on the phagocytic capacity of monocytes and granulocytes. These findings show that iron overload in the host can increase susceptibility to L monocytogenes infection not only by increasing the virulence of the organism but also by reducing the phagocytic capacity of the monocytes.
mesh_terms: D001815:Bloodletting; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005293:Ferritins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins